Indian Rock Park

A large volcanic rock outcropping in the Northbrae neighbourhood, Indian Rock gives you one of the best panoramic views in Berkeley for absolutely no cost and a five-minute climb. From the top you can see downtown Oakland, UC Berkeley, the entire bay, and all three major bay bridges.

The Huichin Ohlone people carved acorn-grinding mortars into the surface of the rock — you can still see and feel them. Duncan McDuffie donated the land to the city in 1917; the Depression-era stone stairs that allow non-climbers to reach the top are a New Deal project.

The rock itself is a popular bouldering spot. On weekends you will often find people on the lower faces working through problems, with others sitting on top watching the view.

things to do sight
A story
The acorn-grinding pits worn into the surface of Indian Rock were made by the Huichin band of the Ohlone people, for whom the site was a community gathering place for ceremonies and storytelling. During the 1930s, a young David Brower — who would later found Friends of the Earth — learned to rock climb on this outcropping in North Berkeley.